Shrub rose plant named ‘WEKswipufste’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of Shrub rose suitable for garden decoration, having flowers of magenta with lighter reverse coloration.

Classification: The present disclosure relates to a new Rosa hybridaplant.

Variety denomination: The new plant has the varietal denomination‘WEKswipufste’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Shrub Rose. Ithas as its seed parent the variety known as ‘MORchari’ (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 5,975) and a non-disseminated seedling of my creation as its pollenparent with the following genetic origin Wild Blue Yonder x [(PurpleHeart x seedling) x Stephens' Big Purple (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,262,‘Stebigpu’)]. It was hybridized by Thomas F. Carruth. It was hybridizedby the inventor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from otherpresently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the Applicantare the following combinations of characteristics: its strong sweetgrapefruit scent with overlaying fruity fragrance, its unusual magentawith lighter reverse flower coloration, its excellent color stabilitythroughout the life of the flower and its large cluster composed of manyflowers. The plant has a bushy rounded moderately spreading growinghabit, suitable for outdoor garden decoration.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed in KernCounty, Calif., shows that the foregoing and other distinguishingcharacteristics come true to form and are established and transmittedthrough succeeding asexual propagations. ‘WEKswipufste’ may be asexuallypropagated by cuttings, budding and grafting. The budding and graftingsuccessfully occurred on the plant/rootstock Rosa hybrida cv. ‘Dr. Huey’(not patented).

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, ‘MORchari’ bythe following combination of characteristics: whereas ‘WEKswipufste’bears medium sized (about 5.6 to about 9.1 cm. in diameter) very doubleflowers (about 53 to 104 petals), ‘MORchari’ bears significantly smallerflowers (about 3.8 cm. in diameter) with lesser petalage (about 55 to 60petals). The new variety has a bushy rounded moderately spreadingsomewhat low to medium height growing habit (about 75 to about 94 cm. inheight), whereas the seed parent has a rounded spreading significantlyshorter growing habit (about 30 to about 45 cm. in height).

The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, anon-disseminated seedling of my creation by the following combination ofcharacteristics: whereas ‘WEKswipufste’ bears very double flowers (about53 to 104 petals) of magenta with lighter reverse coloration, thenon-disseminated seedling bears semi-double flowers of purple & whitestriped coloration with significantly lesser petalage (about 25 to 35petals). The new variety bears medium sized flowers (about 5.6 to about9.1 cm. in diameter), whereas the pollen parent bears smaller flowers(about 4.8 to about 5.7 cm. in diameter).

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The new variety may be distinguished from its closest commerciallyavailable cultivar, ‘WEKstephitsu’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,449) by thefollowing combination of characteristics: whereas ‘WEKswipufste’ bearsvery double flowers (about 53 to 104 petals) of magenta with lighterreverse coloration, ‘WEKstephitsu’ bears double flowers of magenta tolavender-blue coloration with significantly lesser petalage (about 41 to53 petals). The new variety has a bushy rounded moderately spreadingsomewhat low to medium height growing habit (about 75 to about 94 cm. inheight), whereas the closest commercially available cultivar has anupright to somewhat spreading significantly taller growing habit (about125 to about 140 cm. in height).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates the new variety and shows theflowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color as nearlycorrect as it is possible to make in a color illustration of thecharacter. The branches used for the photograph came from 3- to4-year-old rose plants of the new variety grown outdoors in Wasco,Calif. in the month of November. Throughout this specification, colorreferences and/or values are based upon The Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society (2001) except where common terms of colordefinition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following description is of 3 to 4 year-old rose plants of the newvariety grown outdoors in Wasco, Calif. in the month of November.Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural, andclimatic conditions, as well as differences in conditions of light andsoil.

FLOWER

The new variety sometimes bears its flowers singly, usually in clustersof two to sixteen or more per stem. Flowers may be borne in rounded tomostly pyramidal clusters on strong medium length stems (about 25 toabout 40 cm.). The cluster ranges from about 6.0 to about 14.0 cm. indiameter. Outdoors, the plant blooms abundantly and nearly continuouslyduring the growing season. The flowers have a strong sweet grapefruitscent with overlaying fruity fragrance.

BUD

The peduncle is about 2.7 to about 3.6 cm. in length, of average caliper(about 0.15 to about 0.35 cm. in diameter), and usually erect. It isalmost entirely smooth, with some stipitate glands. Peduncle color isnear 146C often heavily suffused, especially on the side exposed to thesun, with near 181A.

Before the calyx breaks, the bud is about 0.8 to about 1.4 cm. indiameter at the widest point, about 1.1 to about 2.1 cm. in length, andpointed to ovoid in shape. The surface of the bud bears between 5 to 12foliaceous appendages with numerous stipitate glands, usually withslender entire foliaceous parts extending beyond the tip of the budabout ¼ of its length. Bud color is between 146A to 146B sometimeslightly suffused, especially on the side exposed to the sun, with near181C.

The sepals are 5 per flower, about 1.7 to about 3.0 cm. in length andabout 0.7 to about 1.0 cm. in width at the widest point. The outersurface color of the sepal is between 146A to 146B sometimes lightlysuffused, especially on the side exposed to the sun, with near 181C. Theouter surface of the sepal is somewhat smooth and bears between 0 to 5foliaceous appendages with numerous stipitate glands. The inner surfacecolor of the sepal is near 146C broadly bordered by near 155C. After thesepals open, the inner surface color is sometimes lightly suffused,especially on the area exposed to the sun, with between 181C and 181D.The inner surface of the sepal is covered and edged with fine woolytomentum; sepal margins are entire and lined with many stipitate glandsand hairs. The sepals are moderately permanent, and usually straight inshape with acute apices.

The receptacle of the flower is of medium length (about 0.7 to about 0.9cm.) and average in caliper (about 0.6 to about 0.8 cm. in diameter).The receptacle is funnel in form. Its surface is very smooth withsomewhat thick fleshy walls. The receptacle color is near 146A.

As the petals open (after the calyx breaks), the bud is about 1.6 toabout 2.3 cm. in diameter at the widest point, about 1.9 to about 2.4cm. in length and pointed to ovoid in form. The color of the under andupper surfaces of the newly opened petals is between 77C and 71B. At thepoint where the petal attaches, there is a moderately large zone of near155B.

BLOOM

When fully open, the bloom ranges from about 5.6 to about 9.1 cm. indiameter. Petalage is very double with about 53 to 104 petals and about5 to 21 petaloids irregularly arranged. When partially open, the bloomform is somewhat globular, and the petals are cupped with petal edgesmoderately reflexed inward. When fully open, the bloom form is morecupped to full, and the petals are loosely cupped to near flat withpetal edges somewhat reflexed inward.

PETALS

The substance of the petals is moderately thin, with upper surfacesslightly shiny to satiny with under surfaces slightly shiny. The petalsare about 4.0 to about 5.2 cm. in length and about 1.6 to about 2.2 cm.in width at the widest point. Petal margins are nearly entire often withan obcordate tip.

The outer petals are narrowly obovate in shape with apices somewhatrounded and sometimes slightly notched with one to two notches.

The inner petals are narrowly obovate to obelliptic in shape with apicessomewhat rounded and sometimes slightly notched with one to two notches.

Petaloids are about 0.6 to about 2.3 cm. in length and about 0.3 toabout 0.8 cm. in width at the widest point. Petaloids are irregularlyshaped narrowly spatulate to gladiate with rounded apices.

NEWLY OPENED FLOWER

The under-surface color of the outer petals is between 77C and 71B. Atthe point where the petal attaches, there is a moderately large zone ofnear 155B. The upper surface color of the outer petals is near 71B. Atthe point where the petal attaches, there is a moderately large zone ofnear 155B.

The under-surface color of the intermediate petals is between 72B and72A. The upper surface color of the intermediate petals is near 72A.

The under-surface color of the inner petals is between 71D and 71C. Theupper surface color of the inner petals is near 71C.

The under and upper surface colors of the petaloids are similar incoloration to the upper and under surfaces of the inner petals.

The general tonality of the newly opened flower is between 72A and 71C.

THREE-DAY-OLD FLOWER

The under-surface color of the outer petals is between 84C and 72B. Atthe point where the petal attaches, there is a moderately large zone ofnear 155B. The upper surface color of the outer petals is near 72B. Atthe point where the petal attaches, there is a moderately large zone ofnear 155B.

The under-surface color of the intermediate and inner petals is near75A, darker at the petal edges to between 72B to 72C. The upper surfacecolor of the intermediate and inner petals is between 72B and 72C.

The under and upper surface colors of the petaloids are similar incoloration to the upper and under surfaces of the intermediate and innerpetals.

The general tonality of the three-day-old flower is between 72B and 72C.

On the spent bloom, the petals usually drop off cleanly.

In November in Wasco, Calif., blooms on the bush growing outdoorsgenerally last about four to five days. Cut roses from plants grownoutdoors and kept at normal indoor living temperatures generally lastabout four to five days.

MALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens are few in number (average about 40) and are arranged regularlyabout the pistils; a few are mixed with petaloids. The filaments aremedium to long length (about 0.8 to about 1.0 cm.) most with anthers.Filaments are near 4D in color. The anthers are of medium size for theclass and all open approximately at the same time. Anther color whenimmature is near 15C on the external part and near 13D on the internalpart. Anther color at maturity is near 22A on the external part and near26A on the internal part. Pollen is somewhat sparse and near 165C incolor.

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Pistils vary in number (average about 25). The styles are somewhat even,average to somewhat long in length (about 0.6 to about 0.9 cm.), averagein caliper, and bunched to somewhat columnar. Stigma color is between22B and 22C. Style color is near 61C near the stigma fading to nearwhite (155C) at the base. Ovaries are usually all enclosed in the calyx.The ovaries are medium in size and 155A in color at the mature flowerstage.

Hips have not been observed on this variety when grown in Wasco, Calif.

FOLIAGE

The compound leaves are usually comprised of three to seven leaflets andare borne abundantly. The five-leaflet leaves are about 8.8 to about10.2 cm. in length and about 6.7 to about 7.8 cm. in width at the widestpoint, very leathery in texture on both sides, and moderately glossy infinish on the upper side and matte in finish on the underside. Theleaves have a pinnate venation pattern. The terminal leaflets are about3.1 to about 5.4 cm. in length and about 1.8 to about 2.8 cm. in widthat the widest point, shaped ovate with acuminate to acute apices andround bases. Their margins are simply serrate.

The upper surface color of the mature leaf is between 139A and 146A. Theunder-surface color of the mature leaf is near 146A. The under and uppercolors of the leaf veins on the mature leaf are similar in coloration tothe upper and under surfaces colors of the mature leaf. The uppersurface color of the young leaf is between 137C and 146C, sometimes witha thin margin on the leaf edge of near 178B. The under-surface color ofthe young leaf is near 146C, sometimes with a thin margin on the leafedge of 178B. The under and upper colors of the leaf veins on the youngleaf are similar in coloration to the upper and under surfaces colors ofthe young leaf.

The rachis is about 5.2 to about 7.8 cm. in length, about 0.1 to about0.2 cm in width at the widest point, and rough. The upper side ismoderately grooved with many stipitate glands on the edges of thegrooves. The under side of the rachis is rough with few medium sizedprickles. The rachis color is near 146C on the underside and near 139Bon the upper side, sometimes lightly suffused on the young leaves withnear 178B.

The stipules are about 1.2 to about 1.5 cm. in length and somewhatnarrow (about 0.4 to about 0.6 cm.) with medium length straight pointsthat usually turn out at an angle of more than 45 degrees and sometimesrecurve toward the stem. The under and upper surface color of thestipule is between 146C and 146D. The upper and under surfaces of thestipules are smooth in texture.

The petiole is average in caliper and smooth. The upper side isshallowly grooved with few hairs and stipitate glands on the edges ofthe grooves. The under side of the petiole is smooth with few hairs andstipitate glands. The petiole is about 0.5 to about 1.2 cm. in lengthand about 0.1 to about 0.2 cm in width at the widest point. The petiolecolor is near 146C on the under side and near 139B on the upper side,sometimes lightly suffused on the young leaves with near 178B.

The plant displays an above average degree of resistance to powderymildew (Sphaerotheca pannosa), downy mildew (Peronospora sparsa) andrust (Phragmidium sp.) and an average degree of resistance to black spot(Diplocarpon rosae) as compared to other commercial varieties grownunder comparable conditions in Wasco, Calif. The plant's winterhardiness and drought/heat tolerance are yet to be determined.

GROWTH

The plant has a bushy rounded moderately spreading somewhat low tomedium height growing habit (about 75 to about 94 cm. in height andabout 75 to about 94 cm. spread at the widest point), with very fullbranching. It displays moderately vigorous growth, and the canes are ofmedium caliper for the class (about 1.0 to about 1.3 cm. in diameter atthe widest point).

The color of the major stems is between 146C and 146B. The major stemsare rough in texture, and they bear several large prickles that areabout 0.4 to about 0.5 cm. in length. The large prickles are almoststraight to hooked slightly downward with a medium length broad ovalbase; prickle color is near N199D. The major stem bears few smallprickles of similar shape and coloration.

The color of the branches is between 146C and 146D. The branches arerough in texture, and they bear few large prickles which are of similarsize and shape to the large prickles on the major stems; prickle coloris near N199D. The branches bear many small prickles of similar shapeand coloration.

The color of the new shoots is 146C, sometimes lightly suffused withbetween 178A to 178B. The new shoots are rough in texture, and they bearmany large prickles which are of similar size and shape to the prickleson the major stems; prickle color is near N199D. The shoots bear fewsmall prickles of similar shape and coloration.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Shrub rose plant of the varietydesignated ‘WEKswipufste’ substantially as described and illustratedherein.